Are you thinking of starting a driving school? If yes, you have come to the right place. Here in this article, we have covered various requirements like startup budget, licenses and permits, and licenses required to start a driving school business.
Nowadays most people want to drive cars and vehicles. However, you need to have a driver’s license from the respective DMVs of cities. Though to get a driver’s license, attending a certified driver training course is not a must.
However, most to-be drivers prefer to go for a training course before appearing for the test. This creates a huge business opportunity in this automobile-related business.
What is a Driving School Business?
A driving school business is a specialized educational institution that provides professional driving instruction and training to individuals seeking to obtain their driver’s licenses or improve their driving skills. These businesses offer a range of services, including classroom instruction, behind-the-wheel training, defensive driving courses, and license test preparation.
The primary goal of a driving school is to equip students with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to become safe and responsible drivers on the road. Driving schools may cater to various demographics, including teenagers, adults, seniors, and individuals with specific learning needs or disabilities.
Here are the 12 Steps to Start a Driving School
1. Understand the Local Market for Driving Schools
In the present day, most people learn to drive. As a result, the possibility of an already running driving exists in most localities. However, there is always a scope to have more driving schools as the demand is growing.
You must go for market research and try to gather as much information as possible to know your competitors, their strengths and weaknesses, the pricing, and services they are providing to learners, etc. This will give you an idea about how to go about starting your driving school.
2. Choose the Type of Driving School You Want to Start
The first decision to make before starting a driving school is whether you want to start your own or buy a franchise of a reputed driving school. In the United States, you can opt for buying a franchise of SurePass or 911.
Buying a franchise comes with a cost like paying a franchise fee, however, the nitty-gritty of starting a driving school will be taken care of by the franchisor. But, if you are interested in starting your driving school, you must decide on the type of driving school you want to start. Below find some of the niche driving school course specializations you can cater to:
a) Preparing Learners for Passing Test Examination
To drive a car legally, everyone needs to have a driving license from licensing authorities from the respective city or town. You will train the learners to pass the driving license examination conducted by the transport authority.
b) Commercial Driving School:
This type of driving school trains candidates who will be driving commercial vehicles like trucks, buses, cranes, heavy vehicles, etc.
c) Disabled Drivers Training School
This kind of school specializes in training specially-abled people.
3. Create a Business Plan
Based on the information collected, you must write a detailed business plan for your driving school business. Write down your mission, objectives, operating plan, financials, marketing strategies, manpower requirements, etc in a structured way. You can get help from business plan generators in writing the business plan document.
The basic topics that must be addressed in your driving school business plan document are as follows:
- Startup and recurring costs
- Target customers
- The operational and hiring plan
- Pricing plan
- How do you plan to promote your car driving services?
4. Name your Driving School
It is essential to choose a catchy and easy-to-remember name for your driving school business. An attractive name will a long way in creating a solid driving school brand and will surely help in finding more customers. In addition, check website domain name availability to ensure that your website URL is similar to the name of your driving school business.
Learn More: How to Name Your Business
5. Licenses and Permits
To operate a driving school, you will need to be licensed by the respective state. Every state has its own rules and regulations. You need to contact the appropriate authority and collect the required information. For example, if you want to start a driving school in Florida, you need to get in touch with the Department of Highway and Motor Vehicles.
6. Calculate Startup Cost & Arrange Finance
At this point, you will be aware of the various costs associated with starting the business. Your likely investment will be mainly on space, licensing costs, vehicle procuring costs, manpower hiring costs, business insurance, administrative costs, etc. If you are looking for funding, approach investors with the business plan you have documented.
7. Procure Vehicles for Driving School Business
It is advised to buy second-hand cars if you are starting with a low capital investment. Ensure the vehicles have proper insurance and have signage for a student driver’s car. Install an additional brake system, steering, and instructor mirrors for safety purposes.
8. Select the Location
Location plays a key role in the success of any driving school business. Try to find a space in a building that is located on the roadside. It enables people to locate your driving school with ease. Also, have sufficient space for parking your training vehicles.
9. Create Curriculum and Pricing for Driving School
Create lesson plans both on theoretical and practical fronts. You can procure pre-packaged lesson materials from your DMV’s approved list of providers.
The pricing of training course modules should be competitive and should be affordable for students. You can charge more for personalized classes conducted for individual learners who are busy professionals or looking for special attention.
10. Instructor Training
Hire qualified and experienced driving instructors who are licensed and certified to teach driving lessons. Provide thorough training to your instructors on effective teaching methods, communication skills, and customer service.
Conduct regular evaluations and continuing education programs to ensure instructor competency and professionalism.
11. Student Enrollment and Scheduling
Implement an efficient system for student enrollment, scheduling, and payment processing. Offer flexible scheduling options to accommodate students’ availability, including weekday evenings and weekends. Provide clear communication channels for students to book lessons, reschedule appointments, and track their progress.
12. Advertise your Driving School
The whole effort of promotional activities of your driving school would be to ensure to get candidates are admitted. Create brochures and leaflets and distribute them to potential customers. Create a website that mentions the services and has a contact page so that candidates can reach you. Use social media platforms and promote your driving school.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications do I need to start a driving school?
Requirements vary by location, but typically you’ll need a valid driver’s license, instructor certification, and possibly additional training or education in driving instruction.
How much does it cost to start a driving school?
The cost can vary widely depending on factors like location, facilities, equipment, insurance, and licensing fees. A rough estimate could range from a few thousand to tens of thousands of dollars.
Do I need a physical location for my driving school?
It’s preferable to have a dedicated space for classroom instruction and administrative tasks, but some driving schools operate without a physical location by offering mobile services or renting space on an as-needed basis.
What types of insurance do I need for a driving school?
Insurance requirements can include liability insurance, instructor liability coverage, commercial auto insurance for any vehicles used for instruction, and possibly other types of coverage depending on local regulations.
How do I find qualified driving instructors?
Look for individuals with the necessary certifications, driving experience, and teaching skills. You may recruit licensed instructors through job postings, referrals, or by partnering with existing driving schools.
What equipment and vehicles do I need for a driving school?
Essential equipment includes classroom materials, training vehicles equipped with dual controls, and instructional aids like simulators or videos. The number and type of vehicles will depend on your target market and the services you offer.
How do I attract students to my driving school?
Marketing strategies may include advertising in local newspapers or online, partnering with schools or community organizations, offering promotions or discounts, and maintaining a professional website and social media presence.
What regulations and licensing do I need to comply with?
Regulations vary by location, but typically you’ll need to obtain a business license, driving school license, and instructor certifications, and possibly undergo regular inspections or audits.
What services should I offer at my driving school?
Consider offering a range of services such as teen driver education, adult driving lessons, defensive driving courses, license test preparation, and specialized training for commercial driver’s licenses or other endorsements.
How do I ensure the safety and quality of instruction at my driving school?
Implement rigorous instructor training programs, maintain high standards for vehicle maintenance and safety checks, provide comprehensive curriculum and instructional materials, and regularly evaluate and update your programs to meet industry standards and best practices.
Editorial Team at 99BusinessIdeas is a team of experts led by Rupak Chakrabarty with over 25 years of experience in starting and running small businesses. Started in 2010, 99BusinessIdeas is now one of the largest free small business resources in the industry.